Section 815-RICR-00-00-1.2 - DefinitionsA. As used in these rules, except as otherwise required by the context:1. "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.2. "Applicant" means, in proceedings involving filings for permission or authorization which the Division may give under statutory or other authority delegated to it, the party on whose behalf the filings are made.3. "Associate administrator(s)" means the Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers for matters involving carriers, and the Associate Administrator for Cable Television for cable television matters.4. "Administration and operations officer" means the Administration and Operations Officer of the Division. 5. "Clerk" means the Commission clerk, appointed by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to R.I. Gen Laws § 39-1-9, who also serves as clerk to the Division. For cases involving cable television or carriers, the appropriate Associate Administrator may serve as Clerk.6. "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission.7. "Contested case" means a proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a specific party are required by law to be determined by the Division after an opportunity for hearing.8. "Division" means the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers described in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 39-1-2(4) and 39-1-3.9. "Division counsel" means the representative of the Division, including but not limited to its legal counsel, participating in a proceeding before the Division.10. "Ex parte" means communication outside of a hearing, in a pending proceeding, directly or indirectly, in connection with any issue of law or fact, between any person or party and the Administrator, Administration and Operations Officer, Associate Administrator(s) or Hearing Officer.11. "Hearing officer" means an individual designated by the Administrator or Administration and Operations Officer to conduct hearings, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1-15, whose recommended findings and decision, when approved by the Administrator or Administration and Operations Officer, have the same force and effect as findings and decision by the Administrator.12. "Informal inquiry" or "Complaint" means an individual contact by a customer of a utility, applicant for service, or other person having business with a utility, asking for information, advice, or assistance from the Division concerning the individual's rights, responsibilities or options as regard the utility.13. "Interest" means, with respect to an issue or matter, persons or entities which have a similar point of view or who are likely to be affected by the proceeding.14. "Intervenor" means a party who intervenes in a pending matter or proceeding by statutory right or by order of the Division on petition to intervene granted pursuant to the requirements of § 1.17 of this Part.15. "Matter" or "proceeding" means the docket initiated by a filing or submittal or a Division notice or order.16. "Participant" means any party or any person or entity admitted by the Division to limited participation in a proceeding.17. "Party" means each person named or admitted or entitled as of right to be admitted as a party to a proceeding before the Division.18. "Petitioners" means persons seeking relief, not otherwise designated in this section.19. "Respondents" means persons subject to any statute or other delegated authority administered by the Division to whom an order or notice is issued by the Division instituting a proceeding or investigation on its own initiative.20. "Rulemaking" means a proceeding for the purpose of promulgating rules and regulations.815 R.I. Code R. 815-RICR-00-00-1.2